BAFTAs 2020: WWI epic 1917, Renée Zellweger and Joaquin Phoenix big winners
Gut-wrenching World War I epic 1917 was the big winner at the 2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (The BAFTAs) in London on Monday. Other big winners included Renée Zellweger (Best Actress for Judy) and Joaquin Phoenix (Best Actor for Joker).
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Gut-wrenching World War I epic 1917 was the big winner at the 2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (The BAFTAs), nabbing seven prizes including best picture and best director for Sam Mendes.
Renée Zellweger was named Best Actress for her role as tragic screen legend Judy Garland in Judy, while Joker nabbed three awards – Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Best Casting and Best Score.
Martin Scorsese’s mob drama The Irishman had 10 nominations but went home empty-handed.
Like the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Golden Globes from last month, the BAFTAs are considered a reliable predictor of the Oscars, which will be held in Los Angeles on Monday.
The BAFTAs have drawn criticism for a lack of diversity, as addressed by Phoenix in his acceptance speech.
No women were nominated as best director for the seventh year running.
“I don’t think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment, although that’s what we give ourselves every year,” he said. “I think people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work.
“This is not a self-righteous condemnation because I’m ashamed to say that I’m part of the problem. I have not done everything in my power to ensure that the sets I work on are inclusive, but I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural.
“We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it is the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuate and benefit from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it. So that’s on us.”
Presenting the Best Director award, Rebel Wilson quipped that she could never achieve what the nominees did — “I just don’t have the balls,” she said.
Marriage Story star Scarlett Johansson, who was nominated for Best Actress, said the lack of recognition for female directors was disappointing.
“So many women made great films this year,” Johansson said. “And I think it just goes to show you that there is a systemic problem that is very prevalent.”
The BAFTAs, though, featured an environmental twist, with organisers making the ceremony carbon neutral for the first time and featuring a red carpet made from recycled materials.
Australia’s Margot Robbie was nominated twice for Best Supporting Actress, for her roles in Bombshell and Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, and ultimately missed out to Laura Dern, who won for Marriage Story.